Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Dear Mr. President,

Looks like you and the Republicans won on that tax deal you cut with McConnell. The Senate passed it and it appears to be headed for passage by the House. For awhile it looked like a Democratic-controlled Congress might be principled enough to fight back and tell you No Deal! but after the election, the Democrats have not only lost their way but they=ve lost their mojo as well. As one core principle after another falls, the Republican Tea Partiers gain strength and conviction and the damage they=ll do in the next two years makes me shudder. High on the list is a phase-out of Medicare, cuts to Social Security, and killing the health care law that was your signature piece of legislation - even if it was watered down and a sellout of principle in the end. How much of the Republican agenda will you accept? Judging by your history so far, I suspect all of it. This tax deal you cut with the Republicans should be a real wakeup call to America. It shows just whose side politicians are on - doesn=t matter, Democrat or Republican, the rich win every time. No wonder people are disgusted with AGovernment.@ No wonder they flock to the right wing nuts of the Tea Party. This tax deal is not only a lousy deal for America, Mr. President - financially irresponsible - but immoral as well, a further betrayal of the social contract and the principles of a democratic society. The result of this deal will be not just more debt for future generations, but a further widening of the gap between the rich and the rest of us, a further diminishment of the middle class, and a further growth of resentment and mistrust of government. Hypocrisy and cynicism rule! The age of the Robber Barons is back! Where=s the Hope in that, Mr. President?